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O. J .7 MUNOH. APPARATUS IE'OR- EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

(No Model.)

No. 301,744. Patented July 8, 1884.

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2 SheetsSheet 2;

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APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

No. 801,744. Patented July 8, 1884.

WITNESSES ad? INVENTOR M BY ATTORNEYS.

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" UNITED STATES PATENT @EEicEa GAR-L JOHANNES MQXCH, OF GOTHA,SAXECOBURGGOTHA, GERMANYQ APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,744, dated July 8,1884.

Application filed June 18, 1833. (No model.)

invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forExtinguishin g Fi res,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved apparatus for extinguishingfire by carbonic acid, which is applied either automaticallyor at anyrequired time without the use of water; and the invention consists of areceiver containing liquid carbonic acid; said receiver having a two-wayvalve,of distributingpipes connected to said valve, and provided withdis charge openings having fusible plugs that melt when a certaintemperature is reached, and a system of distributing-pipes connected toan intermediate distributing-cylinder, said pipes being opened so as toadmit the discharge of carbonic acid whenever required.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation ofthe receiver for the compressed carbonic -acid Figs. 2 and 3 are theterminals of the distributing pipes provided with. plugs ofeasily-fusibleinetal. Fig. i is a vertical t *ansverse section of abuilding, showing the arrangement of the distributing-pipes; and Fig. 5is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in the act of dischargingcarbonic-acid gas onburning articles. Fi 6 is a vertical central sectionof the twoway cock used in connection with this appa ratus. Fig. 7 isatransverse section on line I y 7 7 of Fi 6 of the two way co'ck,showing the turning-plug thereof in its normal posi tion, so as toestablish connection between the receiver and the automatic system ofdistributing-pipes, connection to the other system of pipes being shutoff. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the position of the turningplug whenthe two-way cock is open to both systems of distributing-pipes. Fig. 9is a diagram showing the position of the turning-plug when the two-waycock is open to the system of distributing-pipes controlled by theattendant and closed to the automatic system of dis tributing-pipes.Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the position of the turning-plug of thetwo-way cock when the latter is closed to both systems of'distributingpipes.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a receiver charged with liquidcarbonic acid. The walls of the receiver A are made of such thicknessand strength that they are able to resist an interior pressure of abouttwo hundred and fifty atmospheres. To the upper part of the receiver Ais applied a two-way. discharge-valve, B, that connects the receiverwith horizontal pipes c d, from which the can bonic acid is conducted totwo systems of dis-- tributing-pipes, c d, that are extended through thedifferent stories of a buildin The system of distributing-pipes d isconnected to the cates with the normally-open port of said valve B, andsupplies carbonic acid automatically when the pipes of said system areopened by the melting of the fusible metal.

In the system of distributing-pipes c intended for the automaticextinguishing of fires, the pipes run along the ceilings, walls, andother desirable points, and have dischargeopenings which are closed byplugs of easilyfusiblc metal, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The fusibleclosing devices melt at a certain tenr perature, and furnish an exit tothe carbonic acid gas. Any fire is thereby quickly and automaticallyextinguished soon after its inception, owing to the fact that the gas,being heavier than air, envelops the articles like a sheet, to theexclusion of atmospheric air, and removes thereby the oxygen requiredfor combustion. As soon as the fire is extinguished the discharge-pipesare closed, and thereby the escape of carbonic-acid gas interrupted.

The discharge-pipes are preferably made of wrought-iron or copper, andare tested, like the receiver A, to an interior pressure of two hundredand fifty atmospheres. The plugs i,

at the terminals of the distributing-pipes, are

connected by a sleeve, 7i, and intermediate thin copper plate, Z, to theend of the distributing-pipe c. The plug of easily-fusible metal isbelow the thin plate Z, so that as soon as the plug melts the copperplate I is forced out by the pressure of the carbonic acid. The valve Bbeing normally open to the system of distributing-pipes 0, and saidpipes being filled with carbonic-acid gas, the latter is automaticallydischarged as soon as the fusible plug is melted. It is,however,in somecircumstances advantageous to apply the carbonic acid immediately afterthe fire has been discovered, without waiting for the rise oftemperature required for the melting of the plugs and automaticapplication of the carbonic acid. For this purpose adistributing-cylinder, f, that is tested to the same degree of pressureas the receiver, is interposed between the same and thedistributingpipes d d, as shown in Fig. 4.

The distributing-pipes lead to the different stories of the building,and are provided with valves or cocks at their points of connection withthe distributor f. When the valves are opened, the carbonic acid passesinto the distributing-pipes and is discharged. The distributing-cylinderf is arranged at' any accessible location, preferably in the firstfloor, so that as soon as the location of the fire is announced,electrically or otherwise, the distributing-pipes d for that story arethrown into action by opening the proper valve or cook.

In Fig. 4 the different stories are indicated by Roman figures I II IIIIV, and the valves of the distributing-cylinder for the differentstories marked in the same manner.

It is evident that when the pressure in the receiver or pipes is such asto hold the can bonic acid in'liquid form the latter will assume agaseous form when the pipes are opened, and it is permitted to escape.

The carbonic-acid receiver is preferably located in the basement orcellar, where the same is not only protected against fire, but also keptcool and not exposed to too great variations of temperature. As no wateris used in extinguishing the fire, the goods are injured much less thanheretofore.

Having thus described my invention,I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination, in an apparatus for extinguishingfires, of a receiver for containing liquid carbonic acid, provided witha tWoway valve, an automatic system of distributingpipes connected toone of the ports of said two-way valve, said pipes being provided withdischarge-openings covered by fusible plugs, and a system ofdistributing-pipes controlled by the attendant,connected with the otherport of said two-way valve, substantially as. described.

2. The combination, in an apparatus for extinguishing fires, of areceiver for containing liquidcarbonic acid, provided with a two-wayvalve, said pipes being provided with discharge-openings covered byfusible plugs, a distributing-cylinder connected withsaid reeeiver, anda series of valved distributingpipes connected with saiddistributingcylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL JOHANNES MON OH.

Vitnesses:

GERARD W. voN NAwRocKI, B. Roi.

